Amber Glenn wins third straight U.S. title in "thrilling and terrifying" free skate

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Amber Glenn wins third straight U.S. title in "thrilling and terrifying" free skate

ST. LOUIS, Missouri — There could have been no better test of Amber Glenn’s growing mental strength than what she went though as the final skater in the free skate at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

One after the other, the four women who preceded Glenn each put out an excellent and compelling performance, leaving the Enterprise Center rocking with standing ovations. First came Bradie Tennell, then Sarah Everhardt, Isabeau Levito and Alysa Liu.

And then it was Glenn’s turn.

“My God, to have to skate after that,” Glenn said. “It was thrilling and terrifying.”

Glenn would add to the thrills because she had learned through years of effort and psychological support how to fight the terrors.

The 26-year-old woman, who frankly admits having long been her own worst enemy, became a three-time national champion on what will be remembered as one of the most exciting nights of women’s skating in the 112-year history of the event.

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Amber Glenn makes personal and social history despite flawed performance

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Amber Glenn makes personal and social history despite flawed performance

COLUMBUS, Ohio — When eventual winner Amber Glenn finished her free skate, she was crestfallen, her head bowed, her eyes downcast as she kneeled on the ice.

When defending champion Isabeau Levito finished her free skate a few minutes later, she was despondent, her hands covering her face as she kneeled on the ice.

Rarely has a national championship had such a deflating ending, even if Glenn’s triumph after years of struggles deserves to be celebrated.

“It wasn’t exactly how I wanted to get my first national title,” Glenn said. “It was a mix of being extremely grateful for the results but also knowing I can do so much better.”

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5x3 = astounding for Russia's Alina Zagitova, jumping toward Olympic title

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5x3 = astounding for Russia's Alina Zagitova, jumping toward Olympic title

GANGNEUNG, South Korea - It was just after 10 a.m. Thursday, and the leading group of women was winding down its next-to-last practice before Friday's Olympic free skate.

Olympic Athlete from Russia Alina Zagitova, the short program winner, already had done the run-through of her free skate to music from the Minkus ballet Don Quixote.

It included a combination of three triple jumps: lutz, toe loop, loop. Zagitova apparently did it just because she can; the element is not a planned part of her program.

It was only the first course of the sumptuous jumping banquet Zagitova offered to the small audience at Gangneung Ice Arena.

After doing two more combinations of three triple jumps, which are common fare for her, the 15-year-old sated everyone's appetite with an extraordinary concoction.

She did a triple lutz followed by a triple loop and another triple loop and another triple loop and another triple loop. One lutz, four loops. A combination of FIVE triple jumps.

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